Polk County, Wisconsin
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Polk County, Wisconsin Facts

When was Polk County, WI Created?
Polk County was created on December 7, 1836 from St. Croix County.

What is the County Seat of Polk County, WI?
The County Seat is located in Stevens Point and the county government website is www.co.polk.wi.us/

What counties are adjacent to Polk County, WI?
Bordering Counties are Burnett County, Barron County, Dunn County, St. Croix County, Washington County, Minnesota, Chisago County, Minnesota.

Polk County, WI Vital Records

Where can find Polk County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Polk County vital records can be found at the Wisconsin Office of Vital Records has copies of Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Records reported since 1907. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Wisconsin for current fees and application process..

You can search online for Polk County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Wisconsin Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• Social Security Death Index
• USGenweb Archives Wisconsin Marriage Project
• Earliest Registration Dates by County
• Pre-1907 Birth Index
• Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926
• Wisconsin, Divorce Index, 1965-1984
• Wisconsin Marriage Index 1852-1907
• Wisconsin Marriage Index (selected entries pre-1907)
• Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1973-1997
• Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836-1930
• Pre-1892 Wisconsin Brides and/or Grooms from Maine State Archives Cards
• Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968
• Pre-1907 Death Index
• 1959-1979 Death Index
• 1979-1984 Death Index

Polk County, WI Census Records

What Polk County, WI census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Polk County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1840 (as Wisconsin Territory), 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940.

Polk Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Polk Co. Industry and Agriculture can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Polk Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research.

There are Wisconsin State censuses from 1895 and 1905. Also the Wisconsin Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index for 1820-1890. You can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Wisconsin Census Records Research Guide

• Search The U.S. Federal Census Collection
• Polk County, WI Census Records Links

Polk County, WI Courthouse and Government Records

Polk County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Polk County Courthouse?
The below facts shows exactly what death, marriage, birth, property, wills, and court records are typically in Polk County.The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered.

See Also Wisconsin Courthouse Records Research Guide.

Old Polk County Courthouse

• Polk County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 100 Polk County Plaza, Balsam Lake, WI 54810; Phone: 715.485.9226
• Polk County Register of Deeds
  • Phone: 715-485-9252
  • Birth Records: 1867
  • Marriage Records: 1855
  • Death Records: 1865
  • Land Records: 1853
• Polk County Register in Probate Office
  • Address: 1005 W. Main Street, Suite 500, Balsam Lake, WI 54810
  • Phone: 715-485-9238
  • Probate Records: 1855
• Polk County Clerk of Court Office
  • Address: 1001 W. Main Street, Balsam Lake, WI 54810
  • Phone: (715) 485-9299
  • Court Records: 1859
• Public Records of the Consolidated Court Automation Programs provides access to certain public records of the circuit courts of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin, Probate Estate Files, 1848-1935
• U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898
• BLM Land Records

Polk County, WI Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Polk County, WI?
A list of Polk County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Wisconsin Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

• Area Research Center – University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Chalmer Davee Library, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 120 Cascade Avenue, River Falls, WI 54022; Phone: 715/425-3567
• Osceola Historical Society, PO Box 342, Osceola, WI 54020; Phone: 715-294-3530
• Polk County Genealogical Society
• Polk County Historical Society, PO Box 41, Balsam Lake, WI 54810-0041; Phone: 715-268-8375
• Wisconsin Area Research Center Network
• State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706-1488
• Wisconsin State Genealogical Society, PO Box 5106, Madison, WI 53705
• Wisconsin Genealogy Index (wisconsinhistory.org) Search for pre-1907 Vital Records, as well as for 150,000 Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) records, including biographical sketches, obituaries, and newspaper articles published before 2000.

Where can I connect with other Polk County, WI Researchers through message boards and forums?

• Wisconsin Genealogy Network Community
• Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Polk County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Polk County
• Polk County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Polk County, WI?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Polk County. Many of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is just a listing which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.

Polk Co. WI Books, Newspapers & Publications

• Wisconsin Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• Wisconsin historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from Wisconsin (1837 – 1992) (genealogybank.com)
• Polk County, Wisconsin Books (amazon.com)
• Polk County Wisconsin Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
• Search Wisconsin Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Polk Co. WI Church & Cemeteries

• Wisconsin Church & Cemetery Research Guide
• Polk Co., Wisconsin Graves (findagrave.com)
• Polk County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Polk Co., Wisconsin Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Polk Co., Wisconsin Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• Polk County, Wisconsin Church Books (amazon.com)

Polk Co. WI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• Historical Image Collections (wisconsinhistory.org)
• Local History & Biography Articles (wisconsinhistory.org) thousands of historical newspaper articles on Wisconsin people and communities
• The Wisconsin Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)

Polk Co. WI General and History Websites

• See Also State History for Wisconsin
• Polk County, Wisconsin Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Polk County, Wisconsin Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Polk Co. WI Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Polk County, Wisconsin (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – Wisconsin – Counties – Polk (cyndislist.com)
• Polk County Wisconsin (genealogytrails.com)
• Polk Co. WIGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Polk County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Polk Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Polk Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of Wisconsin Links and Information
• Polk Co. D.O.T. Road and Highway Maps (dot.wisconsin.gov)
• Wisconsin Public Land Survey Records: Original Field Notes & Plat Maps for Polk County
• 1895 Polk County Map (livgenmi.com)

Polk Co. WI Military Records

• Wisconsin Military Records Research Guide
• Wisconsin Military Records (fold3.com) gives you easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the Wisconsin both women and men which served. Just the thing for Polk County genealogists, researchers, historians and much more.